Four Downs: Keys to Jaguars-Texans game

The Jaguars rank 30th in first down offense (4.55 yards per snap), a big reason why they are last in third down efficiency (28.4 percent). Houston’s defense feasts on getting negative plays early in a possession, a big reason why the Texans are the NFL’s best on third down (75.8 percent). The Jaguars need early-down productivity, via the no-huddle perhaps? “When [the Texans] win first down, they switch into a different mode with their sub personnel,” right guard Uche Nwaneri said. Translation: The Texans bring pressure.

In the teams’ first meeting (Week 2), Houston held possession for a franchise-record 43 minutes, 17 seconds. The key for the Texans was nine of their 17 third-down situations, they needed 2 or fewer yards to convert (they went 6-of-8). They weren’t big plays, just clock-eating plays. The Jaguars’ defensive front seven wilted. The same script won’t work. “We weren’t in third-and-long,” linebacker Paul Posluszny said. “On third-and-2, third-and-3, they were able to make a short pass, fall forward and get a first down.”

Texans veteran Andre Johnson has averaged 72.6 yards receiving in 16 career games against the Jaguars. That would be an acceptable total for Jacksonville today. Johnson caught only three passes in the teams’ first meeting, but in the last four weeks, he has 29 catches. Top receivers have averaged 7.6 catches against the Jaguars, whose lack of a pass rush has allowed Reggie Wayne (two eight-catch games), Calvin Johnson, A.J. Green and Brandon Marshall (each 100-yard games) to ignite their offenses.

FOURTH DOWN

Exposing a rare weakness

The only statistical negative on the Texans’ resume this season is a 31st-place ranking on kickoff returns. Houston used Trindon Holliday early in the year but he was waived and ended up with Denver. Rookie Keshawn Martin took over the duties and he’s averaging 21 yards on 10 returns. The longest Texans kick return is 31 yards. The Jaguars’ upset bid would be aided by continuing this trend. “It’s something that has to improve for us to keep moving forward,” Houston coach Gary Kubiak said. The Jaguars rank 26th in kickoff coverage.